Circulatory supply and drainage system for bathtubs



Nov. 20, 1951 w. M. PATCH 2,575,636

CIRCULATORY SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR BATHTUBS Filed Feb. 4, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

yrgfzm Jig $611M,

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE CIRCULATOR! SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR BATHTUBS William IM. Patch, samanm, iCaliL Apnlieatinn'leehrnary 4, 1950., Serial No..142,4fi1

(o1. li -173 B-Glaims. 1

This invention "relates "to bath tubs and has-as a particular object the provision of a tub which may be filled and emptied without making the usual sounds of splashing and gurgling and which may be emptied in a manner making it largely self-cleaning. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 96,206, filed May 31, 1949 (now abandoned) for improvements in Bath Tubs.

\ Present day construction of houses frequently provides only thin interior partitions and even exterior walls which are far from being soundproof. This is particularly the case in the construction of the cabins and apartments of the type of inn commonly known as a motel or automobile court; but likewise in private residences the construction is -frequently as light :as the climate and local building regulations permit. Much has been done to reduce the noise made by other articles of plumbing, to avoid embarrassment to the'user and annoyance to the neighbors, but improvements in bath tubs "have been largely confined to appearances. The need of .a quiet bath tub, as developed in this invention, has arisen with the "passing of thick Walls.

For sanitary reasons, as well as for appearances, it is desirable thatbath tubs be as clean as possible. It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a bath .tub .in which the water may be kept circulating while the tub is being drained :so, that dirt and soap particles are not deposited on,the walls and bottom of the tub as .a result of stagnant water conditions prevailing at a short distance from the tub outlet.

Ingeneral, .I accomplish the above-stated objects and others which will become apparent as the description of my invention proceeds, 'by introducing the water into a bath tub preferably near the bottom thereof in a manner to cause a swirling circulation of the "water around the 1 let of the tub being arranged to discharge and to receive water in directions substantially horizontal and tangential. .In the further interest of sanitation, I prefer to include in the plumbing connections of my improved bath-tub a Syphonill) clearly shown in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure -1 is a plan view of a bath tub embodying the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of that end of the tub having the "inlet and outlet orifices, taken on the plane of section indicated by the line '22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of section indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2; and I Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line *4-4 of Figure 3 and showing details of a preferred shape of water inlet.

Referring to the details :of the drawing, I have shown a bath tub 5 of conventional shape having its inlet pipes 6 and outlet pipe I as usual at the foot, or squared end 8 of the tub. The inlet pipes '6, for hot and cold. water, after passing the control "valves 9, are combined, as is usual in modern plumbing, in a single inlet manifold iii. The manifold Ill in turn admits into an inlet nozzle I 1, preferably near the bottom of the tub, which is turned horizontally and parallel "to the foot wall 8 so as to direct the flow of water along the foot wall in a substantially horizontal direction. The inlet nozzle Il may conveniently be an integral part of the tub, 'having'a wall I? cast therewith, rather than being a separate faucet nozzle secured thereto, although a separate faucet nozzle may be used if properly shaped and turned to direct the flow of water against the foot wall 8.. Preferably, the interior chamber 13 of the inlet nozzle l l .is flattened against the foot wall '8 so as to extendvertically a greater distance than its width perpendicular to the wall and to have a greater length parallel to the wall than its vertical extent, and it may be flared vertically toward its mouth I 4 so asto spread the incoming water upon the wall "8. The wall [2 "is preferably spaced 'furtherirom the foot wall 8 opposite the entrance of the manifold M to the chamber l3 than at the mouth l4, thus narrowing the chamher in horizontal width so as to maintain "the velocity of the water, and to direct the water towards the .foot wall.

An outlet 16 is "provided at the base of the foot wall 58, having a wall H which, like the wall .12.,

may cast integrally with the l uh. The outlet 16 and inlet nozzle 11 may, in fact, be made {to have a pleasingly symmetrical outward appear:

ed so that it may receive a plug or stopper l9 held by a chain 20, and it has its lower margin the tub, and'a's both the entering stream and tangential to the bottom 2| of the tub so as fully to drain water therefrom. The outlet conduit 1 leads downwardly from the outlet IE to connect with suitable drainage plumbing.

In order to prevent possible syphoning of wa' ter from the tub into the water-supply mains, in the event of negativepressure in the latter, it is desirable when the water inlet nozzle I is below the potential level of the water in the tub to provide an anti-syphonic device or devices. Such devices may be of various types, to comply with sanitary regulations of different communities, and will ordinarily be installed by plumbers having such regulations in view. As used herein, the terms syphon-breaker or anti-syphon device are intended to cover all suitable devices, as defined on page 521, National Bureau of Standards Research Paper 1086 Cross Connections in Plumbing Systems as follows: A syphon breaker, using the term broadly, includes any device for the prevention of back-flow of water through a water-supply branch, the outlet of which is submerged, or may become submerged under service conditions. A suitable syphon-breaker as so defined may be a simple check-valve installed in the supply lines 6 or in the manifold H], or it may be a check-valve combined with be held open by infiltration of grains of sand and the like.

While it is not my intention to limit my invention to use with any particular syphon-breaker or to set up standards of sanitary control at variance with local ordinances, I have shown in Figure 2 a syphon breaker of simple and effective construction which has the advantage of having no moving parts. As is usual in tubs, an overflow outlet 24 is provided in a wall of the tub, to limit the depth of water attainable in the tub, and this outlet is connected to the main outlet pipe I by a conduit 25. The outlet 24 is disposed at a suitable distance below the rim of the tub and below the control valves 9. The conduit 25 has a goose-neck extension 26, extending up- Wardly beyond the connection to the outlet 24 and then downwardly to a junction 21 with the inlet manifold I!) at a distance below the control valves 9. The manifold H! is thus vented to the atmosphere at a level above the highest possible water level in the tub, and a potential air gap is formed in the manifold 10. According to the National Bureau of Standard Research Paper 1086, hereinbefore cited, if the height of this potential air gapthat is, the vertical distance between the overflow outlet 24 and the junction 2'! of the goose-neck 26 with the inlet manifold III is at least 1.8 times as great as the internal diameter of the manifold l0, it will satisfactorily prevent syphoning of water from the tub into the inletmains.

When the tub is to be filled, water entering through the manifold I0 is directed into the chamber [3 of the inlet nozzle II and against the wall l2, which causes the water to change direction of flow and to emerge from the mouth H at substantial velocity in a horizontal direction and in contact with the foot wall 8. Consequently, the splash of water enterin the tub as it joins water already in the tub isgreatly reduced, when the water level'i below the inlet, and is eliminated when the water level rises above the inlet. The horizontal force of the entering water sets up .a circulatory. movement of the water already the receiving body of water are moving in the same direction, splash is further reduced and fill- I 7 ing of .the tub proceeds quietly.

When the tub is to be drained, it is preferable to admit fresh water to the tub initially and temporarily, to reinstitute the circulatory movement of water. If considerations of water usage permit, water may advantageously be admitted to the tub throughout the drainage period, of course at a rateless than that at which it flows out. The outward flow of water through the tangential outlet l6 increases the velocity of circulation, causing the removal rather than the deposit of dirt on the walls of the tub.

Because the outgoing water enters the outlet IE horizontally and in its direction of flow, the usual vortex formed by water descending vertically into an outlet is absent. Such a vortex, if formed, would be constantly broken by the circulatory movement of the water above the outlet l6. Consequently, the usual gurgling vortex noises are eliminated. The absence of air bubbles drawn into the outlet conduit 1 by a vortex permits a freer flow of water through the outlet and increases the rate of drainage.

If at any time a negativepressure should occur in the water inlet conduits leading to the tub, tending to syphon water from the tub, air will be admitted to the manifold Ill through the overflow opening 24 and the goose-neck 26 and will form an air-gap extending in the manifold ID at least from the junction 21 of the goose-neck 26 therewith to a point in the manifold ID at the same level as that ofthe water in the tub. As the water in the tub can not rise above the overflow opening, the minimum extent of the airgap may easily be predetermined and made to accord with sanitary regulations. The downward inclination of the goose-neck 26 to the junction 21 has the dual effect of causing air drawn through the goose-neck to blow upon and depress the level of the water in the manifold I 0, increasing the effectiveness of the air-gap, and of preventin water normally flowing in the manifold toward the inlet nozzle l I from entering the tub through the overflow opening 24.

As the principles of this invention may be applied tobath-tubs of various shapes and by inlets and outlets of various forms, I prefer not to be limited to the exact showing herein made, but to the scopea'nd spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bath tub, the combination of inlet means for admitting water in a circulatory stream in said tub in contact with a Wall thereof and adjacent the bottom thereof; outlet means in a wall of said tub having an opening facing upstream against said circulatory stream; and means for preventing there-entry of water to said inlet means.

2. In a bath tub, the combination of: a water inlet having an opening for the discharge of water substantially horizontally along a wall of said tub so as to cause circulatory movement of water in said tub; a water outlet extendin from a wall of said tub into the path of said circulating Water and having an opening facing up-stream in said bath; and a syphon-breaker connected to said water inlet.

3. In a bath tub, the combination of: a water inlet having an opening for the discharge of water substantially horizontally along a wall of said tub so as tocause circulatory movement of water in said tub; an over-flow outlet in said tub above the level of said inlet, the depth of water obtainable in said tub being limited by said overflow outlet; a water outlet extending from a wall of said tub into the path of said circulating water and having an opening facin upstream in said path; and a syphon-breaker connected to said water inlet, above the level of said over-flow outlet.

4. In a bath tub, the combination of: inlet means for admitting water in a circulatory stream in said tub in contact with a wall thereof and adjacent the bottom thereof; outlet means in a wall of said tub having an opening facing upstream against said circulatory stream; an overflow opening in said tub, limiting the depth of water obtainable therein; a conduit for the supply of water to said inlet means, including valve means above the level of said over-flow opening; a conduit for the discharge of water from said outlet means; a conduit for the discharge of water from said over-flow opening; and a conduit connecting said over-flow conduit to said supply conduit above the level of said over-flow opening and below the level of said valve means.

5. In a bath tub, the combination of: an inlet for newly admitting water to the tub having a narrow opening elongated vertically and directed substantially parallel to a wall of said tub so as to cause circulatory movement of water in said tub; and a water drainage outlet extending inwardly from a wall of said tub into the path of said circulating water and having an opening facing the current of said circulating water.

6. In a bath tub, the combination of: an inlet for newly admitting Water to the tub having an opening for the discharge of water substantially horizontally along a wall of said tub so as to cause circulatory movement of water in said tub; and a water drainage outlet having an opening in a vertical plane facing the current of said circulating water.

7. In a bath tub, the combination of: inlet means for newly admitting water in a circulatory stream in said tub in contact with a wall thereof; and outlet drainage means in a wall of said tub having an opening facing up-stream and substantially parallel to said wall.

8. In a bath tub, the combination of: inlet means for newly admitting water in a circulatory stream in said tub in contact with a wall thereof and adjacent the bottom thereof; and outlet drainage means in a wall of said tub having an opening facing up-stream and substantially parallel to said wall.

9. In a bath tub, a water inlet comprising an opening in a wall of said tub and adjacent the bottom of said tub for the influx of water, a wall member spaced from said tub wall to form a chamber to which said opening admits, said chamber having an opening at one end for horizontal discharge of water, parallel to said tub wall, said wall member being spaced further from said tub wall opposite said first-mentioned opening than at said end opening.

WILLIAM M. PATCH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bagwell July 30, 1935 Number 

